Jollyes to launch Pet Manifesto amid new store openings

UK pet retailer Jollyes has launched a Pet Manifesto in collaboration with the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA) ahead of the election. 

The manifesto lists the top 10 actions a new government should take to support pets and their owners. 

The group is asking candidates to support one of the key requests in that manifesto – a ‘pet pension’ to help  support the care, well-being, and welfare of retired service animals from across the emergency  service family – the police, fire, border force, NHS and prison services.  

The news follows Jollyes next store opening at Nuneaton’s Newton Retail Park on Friday 28 June, a week before the election. The next day (Saturday 29 June) it will re-launch its revamped Newcastle store at West Denton Retail  Park, after a significant refurbishment. 

It’s inviting all the candidates for both the Nuneaton and Newcastle constituencies to join the Jollyes  team and NFRSA to hear about the manifesto and pledge to be supporters of pets and pet owners if elected to the next parliament.

Jollyes’ pet manifesto attempts to answer the question “What would pets ask for from candidates if  they could vote?” and has been compiled from the top suggestions made by Jollyes colleagues and  its customers. 

The manifesto includes: 

1. Action to protect the animals who protect us – animals play a crucial role in helping services such as the police and fire service, but when they retire, their owners face increased medical service, vet bills and don’t have easy access to insurance. Jollyes is partnering with NFRSA to ensure the special animals that protect and serve should be given financial support on retirement. 
2. This week (10 June) it became a legal requirement to microchip your cat in England. Jollyes customers and colleagues support an extension of compulsory cat microchipping to all UK nations, not just England. 
3. The introduction of zero rate VAT on kitten and puppy food to help lower the cost for pet parents of a new four-legged member of the family.
4. An end to any ‘no pet’ requirements for renters. Jollyes partners with BillyChip, a social enterprise scheme that supports rough sleepers across Britain and they know many of them have pets. But getting into rented accommodation can be tough if they don’t accept pets. That was due to be addressed in the Renters Reform Bill but was dropped ahead of the election. 
5. Extend the legal requirement for drivers to report road accidents involving pets from dogs to cats. Sadly, a cat does not currently fall within the remit of the Road Traffic Act and there’s no requirement to report the incident to the police – cats are part of the family too and this needs  to change. 
6. Lower vet bills – currently there’s no legal requirement for vet practices to display their prices or  who owns them. Greater transparency about vet pricing will reduce prices for pet owners.  
7. Ensure all firework retailers sell silent fireworks. Bonfire Night and New Year’s Eve can be traumatic for family pets – but not just them. They can cause PTSD for people who have been  in war zones, they’re traumatic for some with autism and those who may have sensory issues. 
8. Ensure Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) are fair to dog owners and allow them to  continue to exercise their pets freely. According to the Kennel Club, over 200 local authorities  have implemented PSPOs affecting dog owners and we support their request that legislation be amended to provide a way for dog owners to challenge the appropriateness of PSPOs in their  communities. 
9. A fairer deal on home insurance for pet owners – over 50pc of us own a pet but some insurers cover the accidental damage caused by pets on home insurance, but many don’t. It’s  understandable that insurance companies find it hard to assess the risk created by pets, but they could do more to make sure accidental damage is covered by transparent policy add-ons or different excess thresholds. 
10. It’s time to let dogs into all polling stations on election day – currently assistance dogs are the only animals that are guaranteed entrance into every polling station, but dogs encourage democratic participation as many combine voting and taking their dog for a walk. In fact the hashtag #dogsatpollingstations is a thing every election day.

Additionally, over the next 12 months, all Jollyes 100-plus stores will be raising money for NFRSA with collections matched by Jollyes to £20,000.

Jollyes’ new Nuneaton store will be its 103rd in the UK and will launch with a frozen raw food shop-in shop. Later this year it will also open a community pet clinic offering low-cost vet services such as  microchipping and vaccinations. 

The store, at Newton Retail Park has created nine new roles and will be managed by Andy Kineton  who recently joined Jollyes after store and regional manager roles for Iceland, Booker and B&M. 

Alongside entertainment to celebrate the re-opening, Jollyes will also be inviting parliamentary candidates for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West to sign up to the Jollyes manifesto. 

Joe Wykes, chief executive officer, said: “Pets can’t vote, but they too rely on politicians to look after them. 

“That’s why we’re asking candidates right across the country to think about how they support  animals that bring joy and wellbeing to millions of families and also give special help to those that  also work to protect us.”